A commitment made over opium is the most binding in the Western districts of Rajasthan and this has for decades been the most reliable way to assure vote during elections. In these areas, the ban on opium and illegality of opium panchayats are inconsequential - because for the assembly seats falling in Barmer and Jaisalmer districts - even today opium is an integral part of elections in its various forms. Opium milk was always a luxury and the product largely used is poppy straw (doda post). Changed laws post the Supreme Court orders make even doda-post difficult to acquire, but in districts along Pakistan border, opium is as essential to polls as posters and banners.
Commitments are made at opium panchayats, commonly called Riyans. Riyans are illegal, never the less they are organised by practically every candidate are the most steep expense he has to bear. Entire village commit their vote to a particular candidate after accepting his opium at the panchayat, in case they do not want to commit, the opium is not accepted.
As per a well informed source, “Every candidate utilizes over a quintal opium husk. We roughly estimate half a kilo of doda post for every booth just prior to polling. For a Riyan or opium panchayat we need anything between 50 to 70 kg.”
“Hundreds of quintals of opium husk is used during elections. Smugglers are in contact with local touts and the narcotics is being stocked. The process had started since April-May when opium was harvested. The husk that was to be destroyed has been smuggled as elections this year and next year mandate need for large supplies,” said a person associated with a opium procurement.
As per a police official, the product is being smuggled not just from across Rajasthan but also from Madhya Pradesh. Vigil has been intensified in districts along Rajasthan MP border. Opium is grown in seven districts of Rajasthan through Central Bureau of Narcotics (CBN) that procures produce from the farmers as per the estimated produce per hectare. A bumper crop yields extra opium milk that is sold to smugglers. This year saw a bumper crop and with elections scheduled to take place at year end, smuggling of the extra milk and opium husk (that was supposed to be burnt as per the SC mandate) has gained momentum since July.
Rajasthan police has seized huge quantities of the narcotics from Barmer, Bhilwara, Pratapgarh, Udaipur, Ajmer, Kota Pratapgarh and several other districts. Barmer police has launched a special drive to check smuggling.
WHAT IS DODA POST
Poppy husk commonly called Doda Post is the most popular opium by product that is used by addicts. While earlier it was sold on government authorised shops, but the Supreme Court ordered that it be burnt. Rajasthan Government had launched deaddiction drive and campaign before shutting shops from 2016.
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